a quick instant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quick instant" is not correct and is generally considered redundant in written English.
You can use it when trying to emphasize the brevity of a moment, but it is better to choose a more concise expression. Example: "Please hold on for a quick instant while I grab the information you requested."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I'll post a quick instant verdict in a moment, and then go on the hunt for reaction.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A smart phone allows quick, instant access to everything in the real world.

Huffington Post

In one quick instant, the wee-stained, shaking, naked, pathetic old man is made noble.

The Guardian - Books

Bonus footage: After Mayer's interview, we got a chance to talk to Steve Cheng, a product manager on Google's Mobile team, who gave us a quick demo on Instant on mobile and discussed their upcoming rollout strategy.

TechCrunch

The first moment of the welcome is a quick, standardized and technical instant during which caregivers have a lot of matters to concentrate on.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Not for a quick fix or an instant big hit, but for the long haul.

Forbes

Taking his eyes away from the paper for only an instant, Tepper shot a quick glance toward his side mirror.

The New York Times

If you want to have a quick chat with someone, consider using instant messaging.

BBC

He said that required achievable goals: "We would like to offer an instant solution and a quick win, a much greater ambition if you like, but realistically it's important to bear in mind this is difficult.

BBC

Specifically, PsychTable will amalgamate the existing data on EPAs in one place for instant reference and a quick look at the state of knowledge in the evolutionary social sciences, which would be especially useful for examining potential areas for new research.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The project is not a quick nip-and-tuck in pursuit of instant youth and beauty.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using both "quick" and "instant" together, as it can sound redundant. Choose the word that best suits the context to convey the desired level of brevity or immediacy.

Common error

Don't use "quick instant" when a simpler phrase like "moment" or "second" will suffice. Overusing adjectives can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quick instant" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, attempting to describe a very brief period of time. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as redundant, suggesting more concise alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

16%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a quick instant" attempts to emphasize brevity but often falls into redundancy. Ludwig AI highlights that its use is grammatically questionable. Although it appears across various contexts, from news to wikis, simpler alternatives like "an instant" or "a quick moment" are generally preferred. The phrase's function is to describe a short period, but its impact is weakened by the unnecessary repetition. While not strictly incorrect, it's advisable to opt for more concise expressions in most writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fleeting moment

Replaces "quick instant" with more evocative language emphasizing the brief nature of the moment.

a brief second

Substitutes both adjectives and the noun with synonyms that still convey brevity.

a fast moment

Substitutes "quick" with "fast", retaining a similar meaning and structure.

a split second

Replaces "quick instant" with a more specific term that indicates a very short time.

a rapid instant

Replaces "quick" with "rapid", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

a short while

Uses a more general term for time but maintains the sense of brevity.

a swift instant

Substitutes "quick" with "swift", maintaining the sense of immediacy.

a moment

Simplifies the phrase by removing the adjectives, resulting in a more common expression.

an immediate moment

Uses "immediate" to emphasize the lack of delay, similar to "instant".

a short time

Uses a more general noun to describe the duration, but maintains the sense of limited time.

FAQs

Is "a quick instant" grammatically correct?

While understandable, the phrase "a quick instant" is often considered redundant. It's better to use either "a quick moment" or simply "an instant" to avoid unnecessary repetition.

What can I say instead of "a quick instant"?

You can use alternatives like "a fleeting moment", "a brief second", or "a split second" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a quick instant" or "a quick moment"?

"A quick moment" is generally preferred because it avoids the redundancy of using both "quick" and "instant", which both imply brevity.

What is the difference between "a quick instant" and "an instant"?

"An instant" refers to a very short space of time. "A quick instant" is redundant as "quick" also refers to a short duration. Using just "an instant" is more concise and grammatically sound.